Issue 23, 2023

Achieving broadband ultraviolet to mid-infrared transparency in germanate-based nonlinear optical crystals Cs3REGe3O9 (RE = Y, Gd)

Abstract

Nonlinear optical (NLO) materials currently attract significant interest and hold paramount importance in the optoelectronic field. Nevertheless, the fabrication of NLO crystals capable of transmitting ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we synthesized two novel NLO crystals, namely Cs3REGe3O9 (RE = Y, Gd), by employing a structural gene strategy that harmoniously merges flexible [YO6] and [GdO6] octahedra with rigid [GeO4] motifs. Remarkably, Cs3REGe3O9 (RE = Y, Gd) crystals exhibit substantial band gaps of 4.92 and 5.3 eV, respectively, while achieving the shortest reported ultraviolet cutoff edges at 210 and 215 nm among the boron-free germanate-based NLO materials. Importantly, these compounds also feature a remarkably broad infrared transparency range exceeding 6.8 μm. Furthermore, both compounds demonstrate a moderate second-harmonic-generation (SHG) response, comparable to that observed in KDP. Additionally, first-principles calculations unveil that the synergistic effect of the [REO6] octahedra and [GeO4] tetrahedra plays a pivotal role in governing the optical properties of Cs3REGe3O9 (RE = Y, Gd). These explored findings offer a novel avenue for leveraging the highly desired NLO materials in the region spanning from ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths.

Graphical abstract: Achieving broadband ultraviolet to mid-infrared transparency in germanate-based nonlinear optical crystals Cs3REGe3O9 (RE = Y, Gd)

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
07 9 2023
Accepted
10 10 2023
First published
10 10 2023

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023,10, 6869-6878

Achieving broadband ultraviolet to mid-infrared transparency in germanate-based nonlinear optical crystals Cs3REGe3O9 (RE = Y, Gd)

J. Jiao, C. Li, Y. She, N. Ye, Z. Hu and Y. Wu, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023, 10, 6869 DOI: 10.1039/D3QI01807E

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